First Look: Canadian travel brand Monos opens NYC flagship
A digital-first Canadian travel and lifestyle brand known for its commitment to minimalist design is expanding its U.S. footprint.
Monos has opened a flagship in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. It's the brand’s fourth U.S. location, with a fifth set to open in November, in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.
Launched online in 2018, Monos offers premium luggage, bags and accessories. Guided by the design principle of “less but better,” every product is thoughtfully designed, exceptionally crafted and made to last a lifetime of travel, the company said.
The SoHo outpost was designed by Belgian architect Bernard Dubois. Guided by Monos’ design principles of subtle surrealism, elemental geometry and “quiet ceremony,” the space incorporated monumental stone volumes, stepped podiums and sculptural brickwork to evoke both ancestral architecture and New York’s industrial past. The result is a theatrical yet contemplative setting where travelers are invited to slow down, reflect, and feel momentarily transported beyond the city’s pace.
“Our stores always begin from the same idea — to create a feeling of stillness, a place slightly apart from the everyday,” said Hubert Chan, co-founder and CCO of Monos. “The journey through the store is transportive but unhurried. From the moment you climb the steps, the space gradually reveals itself — calm, contemplative, and quietly dramatic. Every element is designed to slow the pace and invite reflection before products even come into focus.”
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Image courtesy of Monos. -
Image courtesy of Monos.
Monos opened its first U.S. store in September, on Newbury Street in Boston, followed by locations in Los Angeles and Chicago, where it debuted its first food and beverage concept. Called Postcard, the concept is described as a modern lounge at the intersection of music, design and hospitality inspired by the spirit of travel.
Monos currently serves customers in 56 countries. In addition to its U.S. locations, it has two stores in Canada. The U.S. accounts for more than 75% of sales.
“From day one, Monos was never just about luggage, but rather how people move through the world,” said Monos' co-founder Victor Tam. "This flagship is an extension of that idea. More than just a place to shop, the New York Store is a cultural hub. It shares the same philosophy as Postcard, our café and listening lounge concept in Chicago: spaces that celebrate travel, connection, and creativity, New York is the perfect canvas for the next chapter of our brand.”
